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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5838, 15 December 1879, Page 2

The House sat from half past 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon until half-past 12 o'clock on Sunday morning, the whole of the time being spent in committee on the Estimates. There will be a morning sitting to-day, the House meeting at 11 o’clock, and it is said that an attempt will be,made to bring the session to a close to-night, though that is hardly probable. The Legislative Council on Saturday sat from 2.30 till midnight, with an intermission from 5.30 till 9. Amongst the business done were five first, twelve second, and fourteen third readings, and fifteen committals. Au incident of the sitting was that two members complained of not being reported iu Hansard, which proved on subsequent inquiry to be due to the very low tone in which the complainants spoke, and the bad acoustic properties of the building. Both drawbacks are occasionally extremely obvious. On Wednesday next the overland journey between Wanganui and New Plymouth will be completed in one day, for the first time. Trains run from Wanganui to Kai Iwi on this side, and from New Plymouth to Stratford on the other. The coaches belonging to Mr. Andrew Young will connect at both railway stations, the distance being about seventy-five miles from Kai Iwi to Stratford. The roads arc very good for the greater portion of the journey, so that those who prefer a land to a sea trip will have an excellent chance of doing so, and will have au opportunity of seeing some splendid country into the bargain. Speaking in the Council on Saturday, Hr. Pollen and several others alluded to the custom of sending up, in the last few hours of the session, a large number of Bills from the Lower House, which had generally received very cursory consideration there, and which were attempted to be hurried through the Council, and criticism averted, on the plea that members were anxious to get home, and that the Bills were very small ones. Dr. Pollen asserted that no one could be more desirous of returning to bis home than himself, but that consideration should not prevent him from doing what he held to be his duty. Councillors were not paid to be there to pass a host of Bills with which, and their probable effects, thev had not made themselves well acquainted, and for himself he would consent to the passage of no Bill which he had not been given time to read and consider. He denounced what had the previous day been called the Gatling-gmi style of law-making, and emphatically declared tliat he would oppose any measure on its merits, irrespective of the press of time argument. The hon. genth-man specified Doe Wanganui Endowed School Bill as an example of the purport of his remarks, and said he should oppose it at every stage. That measure, however, died without Dr. Pollen’s intervention. On the motion of Mr. Bunny, the report of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Mr. Henry Jackson, late Chief Surveyor of Wellington, was read mi Saturday by the Clerk of the House. It stated that the petitioner had been condemned by au unfairly constituted tribunal, and that the evidence ad need at the time did not substantiate the graver charges which were laid against Mr. Jackson. After the reading of the report, Mr. Maeaudrew stated that he did not concur in it, but Mr. Kelly informed the House that it had been agreed to iu committee by nine votes, whilst only one vote was recorded against it. During Mr. Hansford’s well earned leave of absence the duties will, it is understood, devolve upon Mr. Wardell, R.M., Featherston. We trust that our respected Resident Magistrate will find much benefit from the holidays, and that he will be able to return to his post with renewed vigor. A return showing the expenditure and liabilities iu the various Provincial districts, on account of the Public Works and Immigration Loans, bis been published. The following are the totals Otago, £4,267,916 ; Canterbury, £2,737,247 ; Wellington, £2,369,698 ; Auckland, £2,295,530 ; Nelson, £807.676 ; Hawke’s [ Bay, £771,817 ; Westland, £736,272 ; Tara'naki, £435,509 ; Marlborough, £249,789. <

Mrs. Pugm, of Mulgrave-street, was interred in tiin Roman Catholic o-.mM cy y.stool. .. Thu Jgc.an.d iaiy, who 58 years of age. was an .I-'I and respected sot.' ier, uaving C iino m> Wellington over 30 years ago. Me'-sra, J. H. Wallace and (i. V. Shannon pri:.,i-i-- I at tl.o 11. M. Court on Saturday. Tner.- war very little business to occupy their at'entioo, the only case being a civil one, Taylor v. Johnson, -which, on the application of .Mr. 'l'. Hutchison, fur the defence, was adjourned till Thursday. Matters look brighter with regard to the Te Aro Reclamation Bill. The committee brought up on Saturday a report on the merits of the Bill itself—a report which was on the whole satisfactory. To-day a report will he presented on tile subject of the interlineation, and as the stanuiag orders are specially suspended in its case, the Bill has a reasonfD le prospect of getting through, albeit it is expected to be the last working day of the session Sir It id. Ball asked Mr. Whitaker, in the Council on .Saturday, why the Gazette of the 'Jib. hist, contained a long list of old land claim eases to be heard! before the Ithief Judge of the Native Lan Is Court—-claims which had been years ago declare I to have no right to a herring whatever. The Attorney-General replied that an Act had been passed last .year by which certain claims, if notice were given lor hearing before Ist January next, could be tried. The notices of motion might come under that Act ; if not, they were presumably illegal. The Bill to amend the Civil List Act, introduced by the Premier, consists of four clauses and a schedule, and may be briefly summarised as follows : —Upon the Ist January, 1S8" . second schedule to the Civil List Act r.jj Amendment Act 1873 will be repealed. The fourth and fifth sections of the Disqualification Act 1878 shall not apply to eleven members of the Executive Council, two of which number must be persons of the Maori race or half-castes. The schedule fixes the salaries of Ministers at—The Prime Minister, £1550 ; seven other Ministers, £llOO each ; and the two Maori members of the Executive Council at £IOO each. The quarterly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce will be held on Wednesday next. Tho following is the business set forth in the advertisement convening the meeting :—“Consideration of appointment of committee to cooperate with the Local Industries Association. (NIB. —It is understood that the passing of this resolution by the Chamber will be an expression of its approval of the policy of protection) ; and general.” Yesterday was the last Sunday on which it will be necessary to hold Divine service in St. Peter’s Church, as the new edifice will be opened and consecrated on Sunday next. The old church, around which so many associations cluster, will be closed on Wednesday evening, on which occasion there will be a full choral service. No doubt the old building will be filled in every corner during the service. The Electoral Acts Repeal BUI (No. 2) by its second clause repeals several Acts and parts of Acts ; the third clause provides for the savin" of existing rolls, and the saving of elections and other proceedings pending at the time of the passing of this Act ; and the fourth provides for the Governor declaring the time when new rolls shall come into force. The schedule runs:—“Acts and parts of Acts repealed.— Imperial Act.—ls and 16 Viet. c. 72, the Constitution Act, in part, namely, sections 7,8, 42 and so much of section 41 as relates to the registration and revision of lists of persons qualified to vote at elections. New Zealand Acts ; The Miners Representation Act, 1862 ; the Miners Representation Act Amendment Act, 1803 ; the Miners Representation Act Amendment Act, 1865 ; the Registration of Electors Act, 1866 ; the Registration of Electors Act Amendment Act, 1863 ; the Miners Representation Act Amendment Act, 1868 ; the Qualification of Electors Act, 1870 ; the Miners Rights Extension Act, 1872 ; the Registration of Electors Act, 1875 ; the Lodgers Branchiae Act, 1575. The seventh anniversary of the Molesworthstreet Wesleyan Church was celebrated yesterday, special sermons being preached. The Rev. W. Kirk occupied the pulpit in the morning and the Rev. W. J. Williams in the evening, each gentleman delivering an excellent discourse. The weather militated considerably against the success of the celebration, but notwithstanding tho rain there was a fair attendance at each service. On Friday next a sale of fancy and useful articles will take place in the schoolroom, on behalf of the circuit fund, and in the evening tho fmniversary ton. meeting will be held, when no doubt tho many friends of the cause will muster in strong force. From a return published showing approximately tho quantity of New Zealand grown timber cut at the various saw-mills of the colony during the year 1878, and the half-year ending June 31, 1879, it appears that there were 128,500,000 feet out during 1878, and 64,650.000 feet in the first half of the current year. It appears, therefore, that despite the commercial depression and the slackness of the building trade, and despite the remission of duty on foreign-grown timber, the amount of New Zealand timber supplied has increased rather than diminished within the last six months. At the conclusion of the meeting of the City Council on Thursday evening a committee meeting was held, Councillor Allen in the chair, the business being in connection with the Te Aro Reclamation Bill. In accordance with a resolution of the committee, a deputation next day waited upon the committee of the Legislative Council to explain the views of the City Council with reference to a proposed amendment in the Bill, giving power to Government to take as much of the reclaimed land as they chose, upon paying the coat of reclamation. The late Provincial Council had made a similar stipulation, only however applying it to such land as the Government might require for railway purposes, whereas the amendment now proposed would enable the Government to seize the whole of the land if they thought fit. The deputation consisted of the Mayor, Councillors Logan, Allen, Brown, Dank.*, and Maginnity, the former two acting as spokesmen. The deputation stated that the City Council would be quite willing to agree to an amendment giving Government power to take land for a railway, and three acres for a station, this power to remain with Government for two years after completion of the reclamation, and Mr. Chapman, on behalf of the City Solicitor, undertook to draw up an amending clause to that effect. The Hon. Dr. Pollen, chairman of the committee of the Legislative Council, promised that tho proposal of the Corporation should receive every consideration, after which the deputation retired. A few weeks since the Rev. Mr. Paterson met with an accident at Kaikoura, having gone there to preach at the opening service of a new Presbyterian Church which was recently built in that place. The rev. gentleman sustained a fracture of the arm, which was promptly attended to by Dr. Fletcher. In a short time Mr. Paterson was able to come to Wellington, and with his arm in a sling he could be seen going through the city attending to his various duties. For some time the arm appeared to be 1 regressing satisfactorily, but soma uneasy symptoms having set in, it was thought wise to call in the aid of Dr, Grace. That gentleman, in conjunction with Dr. Kemp, who is Mr. Paterson’s medical attendant, having carefully examined the limb, found that it would be necessary to have it taken out of its socket, and again set. The operation was a very painful one, and the rev. gentleman had to be put under the influence of chloroform. We are glad to state that he is now progressing favorably, and his many friends will lie pleased to learn that lie was able to be present at the anniversary service* held yesterday in connection with St. John's Church. The Greytowu Volunteers do not apnear to be a particularly happy family, judging from the following, which we extract from the 'Masterton journal : —“ Some little excitement was occasioned at the Greytowu volunteer parade on Tuesday night. Corporal Ronaldson and Private Gregg weie ordered by Captain Macara to fall out and give up their arms to Sergeant Jackson, and consider themselves suspended until they had been before the commanding officer of the district for their mutinous conduct. The men were rather taken by surprise, but did uot ask for a definition of the charge or when it was to be heard. The captain then left without further remarks, and Lieutenant Porter stepped forward and gave notice that Captain Macara had been granted six months’ leave of absence, and had handed the company over to his charge, and in a few well-chosen words said he hoped that the company would obey orders, and while at drill consider themselves under his command. The men then gave three hearty cheers for Lieutenant Porter, aud upon someone outside the ranks calling for three groans for Captain Macara, the call was responded to, notwithstanding the efforts of the officers to prevent it. After parade three hearty cheers were "iven by the men for their suspended comrades, and altogether the proceedings were pretty warm.”

j After our reporter left the ilu-e on Saturday morning, tie Hon. Mr. «:JN >-r. Minister : for Public Works, stat.-d th-G Go- G .wrum-nt intend J to introduce a ■'em ■ f . ctiu a! raanug. meat on the rail ways o: toe e.. 1 m . I that considerable alterations would be male in I the tariff. He also stated that (p.iirojiia as , i fast iu this colony as tiir-v <iU in Au-Juia, i althou.-;h the cost of con ■•rv.c-h.u h-i '-ty-e I three times as great in that colonv a? in N-.-w ; Zealand. 1 Excursionists will be able to :-ee *he ferde | country about Patea on easy terms .luring the holidays, as the steamer Pate.i wiU convey ; pa-scg ;r.s to aud from Carivle at single fare-, | ' from the 20th instant to th- 15th of January. ! j The Waimate Plains are only a day’s journey , j from Carlyle, t The Customs Tariff Act ha* h“un pnbli-hed. ■ i It cc.-lG- of eight clans :* and two schedules. ; 1 The fir-ff. ohediile r*c!te* the articles on 'which S Customs duties shall iu future be levied . 1 and the s-eond mentions those free from duty. ’ j Thev are similar to those embodied in the | j Colonial Treasurer’s Financial Statement, ; | which we published at the lime of its delivery. I A noticeable feature in the simp window, on . Saturday night, of a tradesman who recently i filed his schedule, and a meeting of whose ' creditors was reported in Saturday’s issue, was i the display of three certificates of merit, : iiiinus the usual artistic grouping of muffs aud s other articles of feminine apparel. The window ’ had such an odd appearance, that a number of people could be seen at intervals gazing at the certificates, and apparently wondering what , could possibly have become of the stock. 1 The anniversary services in connection with ‘ St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Willis-street, 1 took place yesterday, the sermons being > preached, both morning and evening, by the ■ Rev. Mr. Emslie, of Christchurch. The weather was very unfavorable, and many were 1 unavoidably absent in the morning iu couser quence, but there was a large attendance at the : evening service, although the rain still conI tinned to pour down to a considerable extent. t The text was taken, at the morning service, from the Gospel according to St. John, chap, vi., v. 27-28-29, and in the evening from St. f John, chap. xiil The rev. gentleman preached very eloquent sermons on both occasion--, j which were listened to with marked attention j by the congregations. Collections were made . at both services, £l6 being subscribed in the morning, and £lO in the evening. The anf niversary soiree will be held iu the schoolroom, this evening, and tea will be laid on the tables at half-past six o’clock. Afterwards, a public meeting will be held in the church, when addresses will be delivered by the Rev. Mr. t Emslie and various other ministers in the city. • The choir will sing some pieces of sacred music 3 durin" the evening, and a choice selection will e be given from the “ Creation.” 3 A man rejoicing in the unusual name of J Thomas Wisdom was arrested on Saturday by ' Constable Christie, charged with stealing £6 from John Richardson. The two had come out together in the ship Arethusa, aud the f money had been taken from Richardson’s s trousers pocket on board the ship on Friday • night. Next day Wisdom was seen by one of 3 the Arethusa’s immigrants secreting some- £ thing near the Immigration Barracks, aud on '■ investigation the “plant” was found to be the 0 stolen money. The accused will be brought 13 up at the R. M. Court to-day. There was a very good attendance in the 1 lower part of the theatre on Saturday evening, when the “ Colleen Bawn” was repeated. ' This evening “ The Shaughraun” will be produced, and as the stay of Mr. Wallace and ’ company will close with the end of the present e week, there will, no doubt, be a large attend- ’’ ance. By private telegram (says the Melbourne I Argus) an important item of banking intelligence has just been received. It is communicated that the Union Bank of Australia, now an unlimited bank, intend to take 3 advantage of the Act recently passed by the 1 Imperial Legislature, and to register the bank 3 under the Companies Acts 1862 to 1879, increa-ing the amount of the shares from £25, ' the present paid-up amount, to £75 each, the 1 additional £SO per share being intended to be •• exclusively guarantee or “ reserve ” capital. 3 Under the intended registration, the paid-up 3 capital will be as at present, £1,500,000 ; the paid-up reserve fund as at present, £BOO,OOO ; the new reserve or guarantee capital, > £3,000,000. The total paid-up and subscribed capital and reserve will be £5,300,008. t The shareholders will thus know precisely the 3 limit of their responsibility, and the public 5 will bo guaranteed to the extent of £3,800,000 0 over and above the paid-up capital of the > bank. A special meeting of the shareholdeis 1 is called for 12th January next, in London, to give effect to the proposals of the directors. . The tendency of this most desirable proceedx ing will be to do away with any deterrent B influence attaching to unlimited liability in c the minds of investors, and to maintain the 5 share list in a satisfactory position as to the j wealth and respectability of the proprietors. A Turakina corresponds of the Rangitilcei s Advocate writes ;—“ The railway has opened 3 its burning season with the special engine to--3 day, setting fire to one of the linemen’s houses t near the Turakina bridge, which was burnt to J the ground in a very few minutes, rhe ocout pants, of course, from its rapid consumption, losing nearly all they possessed.” s The amount of deliberate obstruction which e has been opposed to the business of the House a has effectually prevented (remarks the Press) r the consideration of many measures, and frite tered away a great part cf the session, in a - kind of political horse-play, very undignified t and very expensive. One of the most objecs tiohable characteristics of pseudo-Liberaliaui—-as indeed of most other shams in the way of 3 agitation.—is its excessive and inexhaustible 1 garrulity, aud in proportion as its hollowness f is exposed, aud its nntrustworthiness realised, 1 so does its loquacity increase in the hope ap- - patently that it may avoid judgment in_ the t court of public opinion by deluging it with a s never-ending torrent of words. This it is, e and not by any means the amount of work f which has been done, that has caused the postf ponemeut to another session of many questions , calling for consideration at the hands of the % Legislature. A glance at the parliamentary s proceedings of almost any day will show that, 3 apart from many wordy aud utterly foolish 3 speeches made when there is a debate in proi gress, an enormous waste of time is caused by t members putting absurd and irrelevant questions to tbe Government, the object of which 1 can only be to occupy time, or in many cases j to obtain a little favor with some small knot of , constituents. This system of catechising the 3 Government of the day upon innumerable 3 trivial matters is indeed not the growth of one , or two sessions, but it has unquestionably been adopted to a much greater extent than ever j before during the current session, and has now 3 become a positive nuisance and a recognised r means of obstructing public business. £ News reached Timaru on Sunday that a 1 considerable portion of the railway line had been destroyed south of the Otaio station, - On making inquiries, we learn (says the > Herald) that some three chains had been 1 washed away, and we presume it is at the same 3 place as on former occasions, namely, imme--3 diately beyond the Otaio station. It is only a 1 fortnight ago since a similar occurrence was 3 noted at the same spot, while more than one i has been chronicled before. Two goods trains ■ have already been partially wrecked at the I place mentioned, and unless the Railway De- ‘ partment take steps to provide a proper outlet £ for the drainage of the valley, a very serious £ casualty will be sure to occur iu the end. Chiarini’s circus arrived by the steamer j Oreti last night, and will proceed South by j. the Rotorua. 7 We learn by telegram that the privileges in . connection with the Rangitikei races, which were disposed of at Bulls by Messrs. Stevens aud Gorton, auctioneers, realised the very j handsome amount of £SOO. 3 Messrs. Crcskery, Haseli, and Co., who hare £ just commenced business on Lambton-quay as 13 auctioneers and general commission agents, 1 announce their first sale for to-morrow, at 1 11.30 a.m. They will offer a quantity of 3 American timber, flour, and other provisions, 3 after which they will hold an unreserved sale of furniture, including one of Bord’s pianos. [ In our advertising columns will be found j the catalogue of the valuable books belonging j to the late Mr. Miller, which are to be sold by auction in the Arcade Buildings to-morrow J afternoon, at 4.30 o’clock, i Mr. Sidey has requested us to draw attention t to the sale of horses to be held at the Hutt on i Thursday next. He informs us that the horses I are very different from those generally offered 3 for sale by auction, being picked from a well- : known breeding station, and the animals are j ail young, sound, and well bred. They will be r on view for critical examination at the Hutt the day previous to the sale, t A sale of furniture and household effects will be 3 held to day, at 1 p.m., at the top of Pimmer’s steps by Messrs, Pllmmer, Reeves, and Co. 3 The sale of tweeds, advertised for sale to-day by Mr. Francis Sidey, has been withdrawn.